Dell Inspiron 1525
Notebook Reviews > Dell Inspiron > 1525 > Page 2

Review

Specifications

Compare Prices

Continued From Inspiron 1525 Review Page 1

The latest in notebook designs is the cleaner back approach. Inspiron 1525 is also built upon this approach, so you won't need to kiss that part anymore. It features 4 USB ports, a Firewire port, modem and Ethernet as standards, a microphone input, media card reader, and an ExpressCard slot, all positioned on either of the sides or front. It's exciting to note that Inspiron 1525 offers multiple video-out options; namely HDMI, S-Video and VGA-out. Another cool feature is the availability of two headphone jacks on the front, a feature not seen on many laptops.

And unless you opt for the Sound Blaster upgrade, the model only offers low-powered speakers, like many other notebook pc's, and it won't take time for both of the above mentioned headphone jacks to be occupied. The notebook also comes with an integrated webcam.

As for performance, you can expect a worry-free portable computing experience. With a Core 2 Duo processor and specially 2 gigabytes of RAM in our configured model at $950, everyday tasks are a breeze. The system does suffer from an integrated graphics chip but that's mostly for power-intensive video editing tasks or if you want to try some of the latest games.

The wireless connectivity options are not bad. Even though Intel 3945 802.11a/b/g is still not a bad choice, especially when you are squeezing components in a limited budget, the option to go for wireless draft-N is a possibility. If on-the-go connectivity is a prime concern for you, you'll be glad to know that Inspiron 1525 adds the opportunity for mobile broadband, though you have to pay a premium for this one.

As with any other portable out there, weight and battery life are important factors to consider. While the design team was able to effectively reduce the overall size of Inspiron 1520 to give birth to the 1525 model, they couldn't do as much with the weight though. Still, Inspiron 1525 at 5.9 lbs with 6-cell battery, is half a pound lighter than its predecessor. And the lifetime for this default 6-cell battery is excellent. With brightness settings applied, light use of Wi-Fi, and using the notebook for not so cpu intensive tasks like surfing, office applications etc, you can expect the battery to only die just 10 to 15 minutes short of reaching the 4th hour mark. A 9-cell battery is also an option, though it adds to the weight and shows up at the back.

Except for the absence of a dedicated graphics card, Dell Inspiron 1525 offers numerous advantages over the 1520 model and gives good competition to the recent releases from mainstream notebook brands. It's one of the best 15.4" laptop that packs in lots of power and entertainment features, looks stylish, and yet comes at an economical price.